Prince Vladimir Orthodox Icon

Prince Vladimir Orthodox Icon is a hand-painted Orthodox icon of Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Baptizer of Rus. Saint Vladimir Sviatoslavich is one of the decisive figures in the history of the Orthodox Church and the Slavic Christian world. His life reveals a great spiritual turning: once a pagan ruler and military leader, he sought the true faith and changed not only his own life, but the life of his people.

In 988, Saint Vladimir brought Kievan Rus to Holy Baptism in the waters of the Dnieper, joining its destiny to Orthodox Byzantium and opening a path toward Christian culture, statehood, and spiritual life. For this missionary work, the Church glorified him as Equal-to-the-Apostles. In this full-length icon, he stands before a finely painted Dnieper landscape, with river, wooded banks, and distant land recalling the Baptism of Rus.

Icon at a Glance

Name	Prince Vladimir Orthodox Icon
Saint depicted	Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Baptizer of Rus
Icon type	Full-length patron saint and royal Christian ruler icon
Main meaning	Baptism of Rus, enlightenment by faith, wise leadership, healing, and protection
Available size	From 22×28 cm (8.7×11 in), with larger church and iconostasis sizes by agreement
Special features	Dnieper landscape, cross, prayer scroll, 23K gold leaf, hand-tooled ornament, and cold enamels

Iconography: Faith, Authority, and Enlightenment

Saint Vladimir is shown in full figure, wearing rich ceremonial Byzantine garments that emphasize his status as a sovereign Christian ruler. He wears a long dark blue dalmatic with gold vegetal ornament and jeweled details along the hem. Over it is a red princely mantle, or korzno, a sign of royal dignity and responsibility.

On his head is a high princely crown set with red and green stones. Behind his head shines a radiant gold halo, worked delicately into the background. In his right hand he holds an eight-pointed Orthodox cross, the main sign of his Equal-to-the-Apostles calling and of the establishment of the Christian faith in Rus.

In his left hand, Saint Vladimir holds an open white scroll. The inscription recalls the prayer traditionally connected with the Baptism of the people of Kiev: a plea that God look upon the newly enlightened people. This detail makes the icon not only an image of a ruler, but an image of prayer, responsibility, and spiritual instruction.

The Dnieper landscape behind the saint is central to this version of the icon. The calm blue waters, rocky banks, grasses, and forested distance point directly to the place and meaning of the Baptism of Rus. The landscape gives the icon historical depth while keeping the spiritual center on the saint and his cross.

Prayers Before Saint Vladimir

Saint Vladimir is venerated as a heavenly intercessor for the homeland, wise leadership, family peace, and spiritual enlightenment. Orthodox Christians pray before his icon for protection from wars and civil discord, for peace in the state, for those who guard public order, and for people who carry responsibility for others.

According to ancient tradition, shortly before his baptism in Korsun, Vladimir became blind; at Holy Baptism, his sight was restored. For this reason, Orthodox Christians also pray to Saint Vladimir for healing of serious eye diseases and for spiritual sight: the ability to see truth, repent, and choose the right path.

Common prayers before this icon include requests for:

• strengthening of Orthodox faith;
• healing of eye diseases and spiritual blindness;
• wisdom for leaders, public servants, and parents;
• protection of the homeland and peace in society;
• help in fair governance and responsible decisions;
• blessing of family life and Christian upbringing;
• heavenly patronage for a person named Vladimir.

Artistic Features of This Icon

This full-length icon is richly detailed and solemn in appearance. The saint’s royal garments, cross, scroll, landscape, halo, and ornamental frame are all carefully painted. The wide gilded frame gives the icon a palace-like and churchly splendor. The gold fields are covered with hand-tooled Byzantine-style vegetal ornament.

The recessed parts of the relief ornament are filled with multicolored cold enamels in white, emerald, sky-blue, and scarlet tones. This makes the icon feel like a precious sacred object while still preserving the character of a hand-painted Orthodox icon. The red mantle, blue garments, gold halo, Dnieper waters, and enamel frame create a strong festive harmony.

How the Icon Is Made

The icon is painted on a solid seasoned linden board, strengthened with oak splines to help protect the wood from warping. The board is covered with linen cloth and 10 to 15 layers of natural chalk gesso, polished to a smooth surface for painting.

The face, royal garments, and detailed landscape are painted in natural mineral egg tempera. The pigments are prepared from ground minerals such as lapis, malachite, ocher, and cinnabar, mixed with egg emulsion. This traditional technique gives the colors depth, matte nobility, and long durability.

The wide borders are gilded with 23K gold leaf of 960 purity. The master then works the relief floral ornament by hand and fills the recessed areas with durable cold enamels. After painting, the icon is protected with natural linseed oil, deepening the color and helping preserve the surface from moisture and temperature changes.

Icon Characteristics

Name	Prince Vladimir Orthodox Icon
Saint	Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Baptizer of Rus
Icon type	Full-length patron saint and royal Christian ruler icon
Main meaning	Baptism of Rus, Christian enlightenment, wise rule, protection, and healing
Board	Solid linden wood with oak splines
Ground	Linen cloth and gesso
Painting	Mineral egg tempera
Gilding	23K gold leaf (960 purity)
Decoration	Hand-tooled basma-style ornament with multicolored cold enamels
Available size	From 22×28 cm (8.7×11 in), with larger church and iconostasis sizes by agreement
Use	For home prayer, patron saint gift, leaders, officers, public servants, church, and iconostasis

Who This Icon Is For

A full-length icon of Prince Vladimir in a rich enameled gold frame is a dignified and deeply spiritual gift. It is especially suitable as a patron saint icon for a man or boy named Vladimir, for baptism, name day, anniversary, or another important occasion.

Because of Saint Vladimir’s royal dignity and responsibility, this icon is also appropriate for leaders, public servants, business owners, judges, officers, and military personnel. It can be placed in a leader’s office as a reminder that authority should be wise, just, and accountable before God. In larger sizes, it can become a central family holy image or a generous gift to an Orthodox church.

Key Advantages

• full-length icon of Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles;
• Dnieper landscape recalling the Baptism of Rus;
• royal garments, princely crown, cross, and prayer scroll;
• 23K gold leaf with hand-tooled ornament and cold enamels;
• meaningful patron saint icon for Vladimir and dignified gift for leaders or officers;
• available from 22×28 cm and in larger church sizes.

Free international shipping is included. Payment is due upon delivery.

Questions and Answers

What is written on the scroll in Saint Vladimir’s hand?

The scroll contains words of the prayer traditionally connected with the Baptism of Rus, asking God to look upon the newly enlightened people.

Why is Saint Vladimir shown with a river and forest behind him?

The landscape refers to the Baptism of the people of Kiev in the waters of the Dnieper in 988.

What is the princely mantle on his shoulders?

It is a korzno, an old Rus ceremonial princely mantle fastened at the shoulder with a jeweled fibula.

Why are the colors of this icon so bright and lasting?

The icon is painted in mineral egg tempera, made from natural pigments mixed with egg emulsion, a traditional technique valued for durability.

Is Saint Vladimir invoked for problems with eyesight?

Yes. According to tradition, Saint Vladimir was healed of blindness at his baptism, so Orthodox Christians pray to him for healing of the eyes and spiritual sight.

Is real gold used on the icon?

Yes. The borders, halo, and decorative details are gilded with 23K gold leaf of 960 purity.

How are the colored ornaments on the gold frame made?

The relief ornament is worked by hand over the gold, and the recessed parts are filled with durable cold enamels in white, blue, red, and green tones.

Who is Saint Vladimir a patron for?

He is especially meaningful for men named Vladimir, leaders, public servants, military officers, and families praying for wisdom and protection.

What size is available?

The standard size begins from 22×28 cm, with larger church and iconostasis sizes available by agreement.

How should this icon be cared for?

It should not be cleaned with water or chemicals. Dust should be removed only with a very soft dry brush, and a glazed kiot is recommended.